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Other than revealing that one man's informer is another man's tattletale, Edward Snowden unmasked the U.S. as a nation of alarmist, but powerless, control freaks.

The past week hasn't been about a warrior for good or evil. It's been about a regular guy who took a step that many of us would have filed under “OMG ... but worrying about this is not in my job description.”

Seriously. Kids his age are usually busy making the minimum payment on the you-are-only-a-gazillion-miles-from-financial-freedom card and learning about Google Glass to bother with the battle between privacy and national security, especially those who don't care because they have nothing to hide.

So never mind Snowden; the focus is on what he said and what that really means. Does it really matter if the feds are stockpiling everyone's phone calls, and their posts and Facebook likes, not to mention their Tweets and searches, in order to prevent the next 9/11 without our consent?

Ah, consent. That whole my-will-be-done clause that makes us feel as if we're really in control. Sadly, too many Americans who bray about protecting their right to privacy don't really care that much about privacy.

Merchants can get people to tell them anything they want to know by offering a chance at a $500 gift card on the back of a receipt. Or a discount that won't even cover the sales tax.

Think about it. Tracking your hotel searches and logging the sites you spent more than 30 minutes on connecting pieces of pretend candy corn? There's an app for that, and if I were the developer of such an animal, I'd invite you (and your kids!) to get it for free as long as you click the OK box warning you about all the info you're really giving away.

As usual, the true intentions will be spelled out in microscopic letters, but nobody reads those things anyway. Heck, I might even throw in the ability for your smartphone to emit a Monty Pythonesque clip-clop sound while you walk. Everyone will think you're a pony!

The truth is, many people would rather savor the minor gratifications and goofy rewards of technology than protect their data, which they often compromise without a second thought.

Those who understand that the genie has long been out of the bottle also realize there's a learning curve on figuring out how to manage even the most user-friendly Bluetooth earpiece and GPS tracker. And they realize also that rogue data miners are faster than a manic Robin Williams.

We don't stand a chance of keeping up.

The point is, if you're up to the task of connecting a lot of dots, the idea that some bad guy or guys will, sooner or later, misuse data gathered without consent is inevitable. It's probably not if, but when.

And that's the dice we're going to have to roll in order to stay safe from sea to shining sea. The bottle is undeniably half-empty but, considering that many of us trade our privacy for a discount — or a “Like” — is this deal really so bad?

Anyway, the feds are busy tracking bad guys and have better things to do than mine your data to generate a list of everyone who gave Jay-Z a thumbs-up for that trip to Cuba. Or other un-American activities.